Last Updated: February 01, 2024, 12:08 IST
Samsung and Google have stolen a march on its rivals with AI features
As more companies venture out with their AI features, it is inevitable that people will be forced to pay for these services in the near future
AI applications and features are getting all the attention and brands are trying to lap up them to appeal to the consumers. And that is also the case with the smartphone industry, where you have Google and Samsung already bringing AI-centric features thanks to the advancement of the large language models.
But it must be said that all the AI features are coming to premium devices like the Pixel 8/8 Pro and the Galaxy S24 models. So, most of you would expect that companies will offer these features for free, especially when you consider the cost of owning the device is high enough.
But the realistic part about the AI boom is that companies won’t be able to sustain their business if they offer AI features, at least all of them for free. Samsung recently talked about the need to have a tier of AI features that could command a fee, and it is likely that other brands will have a similar plan in place once more people decide to spend big on these devices.
Apple is probably waiting in the wings to see how its rivals decide the shape the AI segment for the market, and even then, expect the iPhone maker to have a more robust and clear plan to offer its AI features without compromising on user privacy. The iOS 18 version coming out this year could give us a glimpse into the future of AI in the Apple world.
But the bigger question has to be about the need to charge for AI features, and that can be answered with the whole dynamics of how AI functions.
These companies will need to invest billions into high-power computing systems that can help their AI to learn, evolve and perform at an optimum level. Spending billions without having returns is never going to be a sound business model. And like every other business we have seen operate in recent years, brands will look to invest on acquiring customers for its AI systems.
Once they have understood the worth of using these features, brands can eventually name their price to keep these customers addicted to the AI chops that are more advanced than the free ones. The best example of this is ChatGPT which started its journey by getting more people to use its services and then launch a Plus variant that offers more personalised tools and heavier data handling.
So, how soon can you expect the free AI bonanza to end? Experts feel that we could change the market quickly to move to the non-free AI ecosystem in the next year or even two.
